i could never photograph Sekondi properly outdoors. If he went outside and I approached the glass, he would race back indoors again. I don't think he liked me....
i could never photograph Sekondi properly outdoors. If he went outside and I approached the glass, he would race back indoors again. I don't think he liked me....
I did wonder if it was a reaction to the camera. If he was inside(as he usually was) he would leap up and start displaying/hitting the glass. But if he went outside he would just do one circuit of the enclosure and then straight back indoors again.
But he behaved the same even if I didn't bring the camera out...
what enclosure is this? Its not the one where Joe and the other gorillas were, or where the new gorillas are now. Is it the bonob encloure. Also while we are on the bonobos, what used to be in the bonbos housing before the bonobs?
what enclosure is this? Its not the one where Joe and the other gorillas were, or where the new gorillas are now. Is it the bonob encloure. Also while we are on the bonobos, what used to be in the bonbos housing before the bonobs?
what enclosure is this? Its not the one where Joe and the other gorillas were, or where the new gorillas are now. Is it the bonob encloure. Also while we are on the bonobos, what used to be in the bonbos housing before the bonobs?
At the time, this enclosure was shared by gorillas and bonobos. When one group were outside, the others were inside. I'm racking my brains trying to remember who Sekondi was with. Certainly, Joe was in one half of the new (at the time) enclosure, and I remember Mamfe, Biddy and Ozala being in the other half but can't place the others (Bongo, Eva and Asante). I'm sure Sekondi wasn't on his own (would he have been with his parents, Sam Sam and Yinka?)
At the time, this enclosure was shared by gorillas and bonobos. When one group were outside, the others were inside. I'm sure Sekondi wasn't on his own
In this photo Sekondi is still in the Bonobo/Gorilla House (now Bonobo House) not the new Gorilla House.
Sekondi was born at edinburgh and initially handraised at the Highland Wildlife Park by Jeremy Usher Smith, the Park manager, who had
handraised several of Jersey's gorillas. Sekondi was then sent to Twycross, ostensibly to be reared alongside other young Apes. In reality he was kept alone in the Ape nursery for a long time without any social contact as I don't think there were any suitable aged companions being handraised at the time. Later he was introduced to the handreared Asante and her younger halfbrother Mambie and they lived for a while as a trio of 2 males and one female.
Sekondi grew up with Asante and Mambi but after Mambi left(to Paignton) the younger female Ozala was added to the pair. Unlike Asante who was a 'platonic' partner he wasn't interested in, Ozala was an unfamiliar female for him and Sekondi quickly started mating her- a male baby 'Matadi' was soon born.
Sekondi never met his parents SamSam & Yinka, though latterly they lived only a few yards away in the older Gorilla House. Mamfe's group was Bongo, biddy & Eva + Ozala until she moved groups.
Thank you for clearing that up, Pertinax. I couldn't quite remember who was housed where. I haven't visited the zoo for seven years now, but will be visiting in September, and I'm sure I will notice a difference from what I can remember the zoo to be like.
